Last Night's Sunset

I took some photos last night from a new little spot that I found for sunsets-- everyone always suggests the Montauket for watching a sunset, and while I agree, if it's your first time out to Montauk it is a good spot, it can get crowded very quickly. On a weekend night it's you and every other tourist!

Last night I took my camera and a glass of wine down to a more secluded spot on the lower beach that sprawls out across from Duryea's and got a few cool shots in-- in a more intimate setting.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone! I hope you all have a margarita in hand and some fabulous Mexican food in front of you. To help celebrate, I thought I would post some pics from my last trip to Isla de Mujeres, a beautiful island off of the coast of Cancun.

What can I say-- Isla is quaint, fun, has a ton of cultural eye candy. Just a fabulous place to get away from it all. This picture above was taken at Maria's Kan Kin, one of my favorite spots for ceviche.

You can get to Isla via ferry from Cancun-- pack extremely light (your bathing suit, a cover up and an outfit for nightlife) and be sure to rent a golf cart when you arrive. First stop, Hacienda Mundaca, the house of a slave trader/pirate built in the 19th century (be prepared, there are iguanas *everywhere* and quite a little collection of monkeys on the premises). Second stop (especially fabulous at sunset) Punta Sur, the first spot for the sun to hit Mexican soil, and the site of a Mayan ruin built for the goddess Ixchel. This below picture was taken at Punta Sur.

For dinner, there are a number of fabulous options, and the downtown area comes to life with street performers. You can find authentic mexican, italian, ice cream, cafes, bars-- you name it. While a sleepy little fishing village, Isla has a magical way of making you feel close to nature and surrounded by privacy. This is one place where I will definitely be back!

More Beach Pics

It's been a while! The great outdoors have called my name and I have been behind in my blogging duties. Hope you all are enjoying some fabulous weather wherever you are, with gorgeous blue waters nearby.

I obviously can't wait for summer, as the temperatures rise I am excited about sunning, swimming, boating-- you name it! I shot these pics (as promised!) of some local paddleboarders-- yet another sport that I have not had a chance to try. But. Maybe!

The Dunes Near Culloden Point

I took a number of pictures of the dunes leading up to the beach near my house recently. By summer's end I am hoping to pull together a cool portfolio of pictures just focused on the beaches in Montauk, so I am on the lookout for items and people of interest-- it was the fence that caught my eye this time!

Greetings From Annapolis!

To prep for the upcoming wedding that I will be shooting, I took a quick trip to Annapolis, MD. The weather was fair (it could have been 10 degrees warmer for me!), the seafood fabulous, and I was able to find some cool "shot spots." Mission Accomplished!

My first introduction with this fun, coastal town was via my friend who attended the United States Naval Academy (in the historic district). The area is also home to a number of interesting shops, great restaurants, and even The National Sailing Hall of Fame. If you love to sail, Annapolis is a great spot to get your fix. Re-Sails, a store that makes unique products from used sails, is also located near the City Dock, and has a number of great gifts for that special sailor in your life!

While there is no beach (sans sand), the beautiful harbor views and historic homes make up for it, as well as the myriad of art galleries. I did not visit any of the galleries this time, but I did have a fabulous lunch at McGarvey's Saloon and Oyster Bar-- their steamed seafood sampler hit the spot. See ya next time!

Fort Pond Area

Montauk is surrounded by beautiful waterviews. It's a great place to get in the car, drive along the coast and just soak everything in. One of my favorite spots for taking pictures is at Fort Pond Bay, inbetween the Montauket and Duryea's Lobster Deck and Seafood Market. This strip is a prime sunset-watching spot.

As some of you know, I am getting ready to photograph a wedding this upcoming Labor Day in Annapolis Maryland, another great coastal town. You can view some engagement pictures that I took of the couple in Washington, D.C. here. They are really excited for their big day, and I am thrilled to be a small part of it!

This next group of pictures also features Fort Pond, and these were taken at one of my favorite spots for a group dinner, Harvest. They specialize in family-style dining, and my Aunt Patty claims that they have the best seafood she has ever tasted (note: she does eat a lot of seafood). Harvest has a seafood bruschetta on the menu that's pretty amazing-- picture a big overflowing tray of mussels, clams, shrimp and scallops with a delicious buttery sauce and yummy bread to soak everything up with.

I am still determining who reigns supreme in Montauk in terms of seafood (The Dock is also excellent and high on my list), but Harvest has great food, drinks and atmosphere. In the summer months you can feed the swans, ducks and coy right off of their little dock on Fort Pond; but unfortunately, during my last trip there the dock was underwater due to the flooding Montauk experienced following the last storm (see the above picture on the left where the water comes all the way up the dock's ramp).

The Beach is My Backyard!

I still can't believe how close to the beach the Blue Gull Beach House is-- I love it! I have never lived quite this close to the ocean before. It is appropriate that I live on Gull Road, because in the mornings, the seagulls often sit right on the roof of the house!

The picture to the left is of my private beach, literally a stone's throw away. If I forget my sunblock, or feel like heading back to the house for some lunch (or perhaps a margarita?) all I have to do is hit the pause button on my i-pod and I haven't put a dent in my tanning schedule! I am also extremely close to other beaches, including Ditch Plains, where I love taking pictures.

This next set of photos was taken in the late afternoon near the jetty in Ditch Plains. In the mornings, surfers and paddleboarders are always out. I love that Montauk's beach culture is so diverse-- you have fishermen, surfers, artists, and a growing number of restauranteurs and chefs. I don't know where I fit in, but I am happy just to be a chic in flip-flops, and I've really enjoyed meeting many of the local shop owners, beachgoers and bartenders along the way. Hope you enjoy the pics, now it's time to do some taxes. Too bad we couldn't just send all the IRS folks to the beach and forget about it!

Art on the Way!

I wanted to remind you all to keep an eye out for the Montauk Fine Arts Festival this coming May 29-30th. Featuring artists from across the country, this two-day event will bring new ceramics, photography, digital art, paintings, jewelry, mixed media, metal works and sculpture to the Montauk Village Green. As a photographer myself, I am really excited to see what new artists and works will make it out to the End this year. The picture to the left is a photo that I recently took, I was debating hanging a framed version in the Blue Gull Beach House's kitchen.......but.......maybe I'll find a better option this May! (I'm pretty sure I will!).